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The survey of 1,000 GCSE students across the UK, which was commissioned by social enterprise Under Age Sales, also found that 12% of teens from the North West will ask their parents to buy drinks for them.

And while some teenagers might see having a tipple or two to celebrate their grades as a one-off occasion, the research revealed that underage drinking is an issue all year round. Results showed almost a quarter (24%) drink alcohol at least once a month and 15% drink at least once a week.

North West teenagers admitted getting themselves into precarious situations when under the influence of alcohol. Over a quarter (26%) have argued with family of friends, 15% have found themselves injured, admitted to hospital or blacked out, and 12% confessed to having sex. A further six per cent have engaged in physical violence and eight per cent admitted to taking drugs.

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Tony Allen, managing director of Under Age Sales, said: “It’s an exciting time for teenagers receiving their exam results and many will see this as the perfect opportunity to celebrate their hard work and let their hair down with a drink.

“While some parents may allow this to happen in the safety of their own home where their children can be supervised, it’s important to remember that there are laws in place to protect youngsters and their local communities from harm and anti-social behaviour.

“As potentially thousands of teens will aim to purchase alcohol, it’s more important than ever for retailers in the North West to adhere to the law and be extra vigilant when it comes to implementing age verification policies. Retailers need to make sure their staff are fully trained so they understand the law and how to comply with it, as well as initiatives like Challenge 25.

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“Retailers should also be aware that often young people will encourage older family members or friends – or even strangers on the street – to buy alcohol on their behalf. If a retailer suspects this of taking place, they should remember they are well within their rights to refuse to sell the alcohol.”

Retailers who want advice and guidance on the law around age restricted products and training should visit www.underagesales.co.uk.